Grants

The Community Foundation has two competitive grants programs made possible by contributions to the Better Together Fund: Leadership Grants and Capacity Building Grants. Applications for these grant programs are available through an online web portal called Manage My Grants. For instructions on how to use Manage My Grants click here. To obtain a user name and password please contact the Community Foundation by email or at 515-447-4219.

Leadership Grants

The Community Foundation plays a key role in providing significant funding to leadership projects that strengthen Greater Des Moines by proactively responding to community trends and opportunities. This grant program seeks to create "tidal waves" around community issues. Click here to review the Grantmaking Priorities.

Leadership Grant Details & Application Cycle:

It is required that an organization speak with a staff member at the the Community Foundation before each Leadership Grant Letter of Intent cycle to discuss the proposal. Your Letter of Intent will not be considered for a Leadership Grant if you have not met with Community Foundation staff. Please contact Angie Dethlefs-Trettin, Chief Community Impact Officer, to Schedule a conversation.

Capacity Building Grants

These grants seek to strengthen an organization in an area related to governance or management and provide capacity support for a collaborative initiative/effort to enhance systemic support around a community issue or priority.

For more information

Growing Bright Futures

The IHYC Rooftop Garden is taking an innovative approach to providing job training to the youth it serves by placing shipping containers on the roof of its facility to grow produce year-round to sell to local retailers and use in the onsite kitchen. Youth utilizing the IHYC program will be hired to maintain and harvest 1,000 plants each week during a four-month apprenticeship, while learning in-demand job skills like logistic management and culinary services.

This innovative project was sparked into action by being named runner-up in the 2016 Ignite Community Innovation Challenge. As the project grew, so did the Community Foundation’s support. A Leadership Grant, funded by the Better Together Fund, was awarded in 2017 and the Community Foundation’s Leadership Circle invested additional support.